Gov. John Hickenlooper already has sent the Legislature a detailed $134 million proposal for spending recreational and medical marijuana money, including new spending on anti-drug messaging to kids and more advertising discouraging driving while high.

"There probably is a tendency to want to just grab on to this revenue from marijuana and feed my own pet projects, and I don't think it's going to be that simple," said Sen. Kent Lambert, R-Colorado Springs and another committee member.

Unless my math is off, I don't think they're going to have to worry about that anytime soon.

There are still a lot of places that it will be legal to sell recreationally and just isn't yet. Boulder comes to mind, and I'm sure there are others. They won't hit $70 million this year, but the "per month" figure should pick up once more stores are opened.

Unless my math is off, I don't think they're going to have to worry about that anytime soon.

The collection was probably low (when compared to projections) because people are still: A) warming to the idea of decriminalized pot, and B) the banks having to implement special procedures so sellers can deposit funds without worry the Feds will crash the bank(s) for money laundering.

JRoo:Next thing they'll be telling us is licensing and checking ID's helps keep abusable substances out of the hands of minors by creating a trail of accountability.

What about keeping funds out of the hands of underground drug gangs? Stupid potheads.

Next thing stupid prohibitionists will be telling us is the violent, untaxable drug war is somehow better. We keep the the funds out of the gang's hands by making it legit, like alcohol, farking dumbass.

Just for shiats and grins I pulled up the Amtrak site to see what an Orlando to Denver trip would be like. Four days, three different trains, and nearly $300 one way for a coach seat. fml

/need someone on this side of the Mississippi to go "fark it... make it legal"//was hoping for North Carolina but they've been going 'pants on head on fire' the last few years///farkin' teabaggers ruin everything

I'm not a lawyer or government studiologist, so maybe someone familiar with the state vs federal system can chime in:

Let's say the feds never legalize pot at the national level... but all the states individually do. What power/authority does the fed have in a case where no crime is committed at the state level, but on a federal level, if only on paper? Is it even possible (legally) for the fed to maintain its illegality?

Doesn't have to be pot, could be anything. Just curious about how this odd scenario would work out.

somemoron:I'm not a lawyer or government studiologist, so maybe someone familiar with the state vs federal system can chime in:

Let's say the feds never legalize pot at the national level... but all the states individually do. What power/authority does the fed have in a case where no crime is committed at the state level, but on a federal level, if only on paper? Is it even possible (legally) for the fed to maintain its illegality?

Doesn't have to be pot, could be anything. Just curious about how this odd scenario would work out.

If it is on federal land, then there is a federal charge, if it crosses state borders, then there are other federal charges. But my guess is the Federal government will drops the legislation once a few more states start changing their laws.

Ow! That was my feelings!:JRoo: Next thing they'll be telling us is licensing and checking ID's helps keep abusable substances out of the hands of minors by creating a trail of accountability.

What about keeping funds out of the hands of underground drug gangs? Stupid potheads.

Next thing stupid prohibitionists will be telling us is the violent, untaxable drug war is somehow better. We keep the the funds out of the gang's hands by making it legit, like alcohol, farking dumbass.

That's my concern here in Washington. I can only hope our legal sales can open with what seems like few problems in Colorado. We're more prone to higher taxes (currently proposing 75% tax on e-cigs) there's still a lot of NIMBYs and everything has to go before what seems like an endless committee. Can't we just sell, tax, smoke and all get along?

AbuHashish:Ow! That was my feelings!: JRoo: Next thing they'll be telling us is licensing and checking ID's helps keep abusable substances out of the hands of minors by creating a trail of accountability.

What about keeping funds out of the hands of underground drug gangs? Stupid potheads.

Next thing stupid prohibitionists will be telling us is the violent, untaxable drug war is somehow better. We keep the the funds out of the gang's hands by making it legit, like alcohol, farking dumbass.

That's my concern here in Washington. I can only hope our legal sales can open with what seems like few problems in Colorado. We're more prone to higher taxes (currently proposing 75% tax on e-cigs) there's still a lot of NIMBYs and everything has to go before what seems like an endless committee. Can't we just sell, tax, smoke and all get along?

king_nacho:somemoron: I'm not a lawyer or government studiologist, so maybe someone familiar with the state vs federal system can chime in:

Let's say the feds never legalize pot at the national level... but all the states individually do. What power/authority does the fed have in a case where no crime is committed at the state level, but on a federal level, if only on paper? Is it even possible (legally) for the fed to maintain its illegality?

Doesn't have to be pot, could be anything. Just curious about how this odd scenario would work out.

If it is on federal land, then there is a federal charge, if it crosses state borders, then there are other federal charges. But my guess is the Federal government will drops the legislation once a few more states start changing their laws.

Well, that was a thoughtful and erudite answer. Goddamn it, I wanted some sort of M. Night Shamalan mental twist to keep me awake at night. SCREW YOU!

Ow! That was my feelings!:JRoo: Next thing they'll be telling us is licensing and checking ID's helps keep abusable substances out of the hands of minors by creating a trail of accountability.

What about keeping funds out of the hands of underground drug gangs? Stupid potheads.

Next thing stupid prohibitionists will be telling us is the violent, untaxable drug war is somehow better. We keep the the funds out of the gang's hands by making it legit, like alcohol, farking dumbass.

JRoo:Ow! That was my feelings!: JRoo: Next thing they'll be telling us is licensing and checking ID's helps keep abusable substances out of the hands of minors by creating a trail of accountability.

What about keeping funds out of the hands of underground drug gangs? Stupid potheads.

Next thing stupid prohibitionists will be telling us is the violent, untaxable drug war is somehow better. We keep the the funds out of the gang's hands by making it legit, like alcohol, farking dumbass.

Yeah right. Taco Bell already wants $5 for their Nachos Los Locos Bell Grande Dorito Shelled Taco or whatever the hell they call it. What are they supposed to do, sell food based on its inherent qualities rather than cheap marketing ploys?

Who gives a shiat about the tax revenue? How about legalizing it because it's the right thing to do? Everything else is just a side effect.

somemoron:I'm not a lawyer or government studiologist, so maybe someone familiar with the state vs federal system can chime in:

Let's say the feds never legalize pot at the national level... but all the states individually do. What power/authority does the fed have in a case where no crime is committed at the state level, but on a federal level, if only on paper? Is it even possible (legally) for the fed to maintain its illegality?

Doesn't have to be pot, could be anything. Just curious about how this odd scenario would work out.

Depends on whether the feds have their own enforcement capabilities. As far as I know, treason isn't a crime in any particular state but you can bet your ass the feds can enforce that one. And given the budget and reach of the DEA, if the feds really wanted to put the screws down they'd have no problem doing so.

And the power of the purse can be a lot stronger than anything else... "Nice lower-than-we-like drinking age you have there. Be a shame if anything happened to that highway funding you get from us." Sound familiar?